UPDATED: Supreme Court Upholds Judgement Barring APC From Rivers Elections

The Supreme Court has affirmed a judgment of the Federal High Court which bars candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from participating in the upcoming governorship, national and state assembly elections in Rivers State.

The Supreme Court consequently nullified the judgement delivered by the Court of Appeal which allowed the APC field candidates in the general elections in Rivers.

The Supreme Court ruling followed the stay of execution of the lower court judgement delivered by the Appeal Court on Monday. The Monday ruling of the appellate court had given hope to a faction of the Rivers APC which challenged the earlier decision of the High Court.

But faulting the Appeal Court order on Friday, the Supreme Court said the appellate court failed to cite relevant sections of the law in invaliding the decision of the Federal High Court.

The Supreme Court also faulted the basis upon which the appellate court voided the High Court judgement.

The judgement today removes all hopes as to if the APC can field governorship, national and state assembly candidates in the forthcoming general elections.